Cold Temps Bad For Nitro?

[bigfreak]

I'm not asking this as a question, but more of a survey as MY mind is already made up.

It's my beliefe that running your Nitros in an environment that doesn't allow the internal parts to heat above 200 degrees is bad for the engine. In my pre-racing days, I used to take my Nitros out in the snow and cold weather just to get my fix. One year, I put about a 1/2 gallon through a fairly new engine. It saddens me to say it but that engine didn't live a full life. In my estimation it was shorted about 2-3 gallons of life. I attribute this to running in the Nitro in the cold.

Before I leave you all to post your thoughts, I thought I would share some info on the subject. As temps go down, o2 concentration goes up. For that reason, your settings will naturally lean out in colder temps. The correct corse of action, therefore, is to richen the needles. After your air/fuel mix is correct (generally a lot richer), you'll find that your engine temps don't reach the numbers they once did. If it gets down to 30 degrees outside, you can't expect to see temps higher than 180-190 no matter how hard you push the vehicle.

I consider anything over 200 degrees "operating temp". Anything below operating temp doesn't allow the internals parts of the engine to expand as they should. This creates a constricted environment that puts undo stress on the internal parts causing them to loose life quickly. (At least that's how I figure it)

Around these parts, we have a couple of indoor tracks that run nitro in freezing weather (30 degrees at best). The guys I race with are kind of split on the topic. Some say it's fine and other say it's bad.

So how do you guys feel about running Nitro in the cold? Good idea :thumbup: or bad idea :thumbdown ?

 

[psunitro]

:hammer: It's bad. If I run in the cold I always ues the old Al. foil around the head thing to get to temp,and to temp quicker. Running in the cold will be out for my truggy since it had a big ol' aftermarket cooling head on it. Dont know if I could even get it up to temp in the cold.

 

[Rolex]

Everyone here that runs a large aftermarket head on a 2.5, is putting the stock head back for the cooler days. All your info is correct. We are also trying to design some type of easily removable shield to block some air from getting through the fins. Another thought is running a new body without cooling holes.
I agree with the theory that an engine running under it's 'happy' temp will have a shortened life. Almost as bad as running too hot.

 

[RCDad]

It was cold today in Chicago, single digits when you factor in the wind chill.

 

[Team 17]

I've ran my T-maxx in the cold and haven't had a problem if the truck is in a warm room before I take it out.

 

[AC48]

I run my savage all the time in the snow, have never had any problems getting up to around 200, doesn't get quite up to normal summer temps, 240-260, but I think its okay as long as you do get to around 200.

Running below 200 is bad for an engine but I seem to beable to get up to an okay temp, maybe I have it too lean, i dunno :shrug:

 

[fisherman]

i Layered a sock 3 times and put it around my buggies head this past weekend and the temps only got up to 150-160 and thats when i was running it hard when i was juf tdinking around it was only in the 140 and this is in 40 degree weather + or - a few degrees. And i had a sock around it. maybe someone could make a heater that runs off butain or somfin maybe electric. Its not good for 1:1 car so go a short distant all the time either cuz hte engine doesn't heat up to its normal temp. It not heating up to a certain temp doesn't burn the oil, or somfin kinda har to describe on here.

just heard its not good for the engine.

 

[bigfreak]

I've heard that you can cut some fins off your head, but just goes too far for me. I might change my tune if I actually had a "bashing" vehicle, but I don't. In all honesty, I don't bash my buggy even in 80 degree weather. I surely would NEVER take fins off my racing engine. The sight would cause me too much pain.

 

[psunitro]

You could always buy a winter head to hack up. Find a stock or cheap head to cut up.

 

[Skipper]

When I first purchased my "original" maxx about 4 years ago, I broke it in, in the winter time (about 20-40 degree temps) and ran it more in the winter time (through snow) than I ran it in the summer time.
The engine just recently gave up aprox. 5 months ago, had about 8 gallons through the engine.

 

[FRIDGE]

so whats best to wrap up some of the cooling fins with aluminum foil?? how much of the head should be covered up, i want to break this xtm.18 in tomorrow

 

[SkyMaxx]

Seems like an awful lot of work for some fun in the snow.

When I had my T-Maxx and ran it in the snow, I simply brought the hair dryer out to pre-heat the engine for starts and to keep it warm between runs. From there it was run it until I couldn't run it no more. Granted, at the time, I did not have a temp gun so I do not know what the temps got up to, but the engine ran right as rain in the Spring and Summer after the snow running.

I guess it is all in your set up and how you choose to run things.

 

[supersavage]

Talk about a rhetorical question...all good points though! I've been running my savage the same as I've been flying my planes for years. Wrap the head with alum. foil lined with a couple layers of paper towel to hold the heat (moisture in the towel almost seems to help). It's been between 25-60 degrees here depending on the day, but she stays around 220-240. And for the cold, dense air...it's the secret to horsepower!!!

Let 'er fly boys...

 

[Buggyracer28]

If I had like a revo, since it comes with the trx 2.5 and since it is not the best engine, i wouldn't care if i ran it in the snow because i'd save up for a new engine by the time winter is over. So my trx 2.5 would be my winter engine. hey thats a good idea :idea: